I stood at the very top of the stairs, listening to Bixlow tell Freed about us when we were kids. I could feel the tears running down my face and struggled to keep my sobs quiet.

I never wanted to leave him behind, but I had no choice. There was nothing else I could do. I didn't know I had put him through so much though. I feel bad about never telling him the truth.

But I can't get him involved in my problems. I don't want to put him in danger because of me. I took a moment to dry my eyes and compose myself before walking down the stairs. Bixlow and Freed immediately focused on me.

Bixlow straightened himself and said, "Freya, I-"

I cut him off by holding a hand up, signalling for him to be quiet. "I don't want to talk. I'm just waiting for Milo to get better."

I sat myself on the couch and leaned forward to look at the drawings on the coffee table in front of me. I noticed Bixlow come over and sit beside me, causing me to let out a quiet sigh.

"I'm glad you were telling the truth," he suddenly told me. "I didn't want to think that you of all people became a criminal."

I quickly replied, "Of course not. There is a reason for everything, Bixlow."

"Even a reason why you never came back and explained things?"

I turned my head away and quietly answered, "Yes."

"Then please, tell me why."

"Tell him! Tell him!"

I kept my face turned away and rubbed my arms uncomfortably. "I...I can't."

"But-"

"Just drop it, Bixlow," I told him sternly.

I heard him sigh and everything grew quiet. I heard footsteps and noticed Freed coming over. He stopped in front of the coffee table.

"Is this you in these pictures?"

I looked up at him and followed his gaze to the drawings on the table. I smiled slightly and picked one up.

"Yeah, Milo drew them. He's pretty good for his age."

Freed flashed me a small smile and picked up the picture Milo drew of me sleeping on the couch. "He is, and he seems to really like drawing you."

Our conversation was interrupted by Isla and Liam coming down the stairs. I immediately stood up as they walked over to me.

"How's he doing?" I asked with worry.

Isla smiled kindly and answered, "He's going to be fine. The medicine we made is already working. Now he just needs to rest."

Liam cut in and said, "We really can't thank you enough, Freya. You've done so much for us."

"It's no problem. I like being able to help those in need. But...I do think it's time I leave."

They both looked slightly surprised and Isla told me, "You don't have to go. You can stay here as long as you like."

I nodded sadly. "I know, but I really should get going. I've been here long enough."

"We should get going too," Freed said from behind me.

We went outside and I said my last goodbyes before turning to leave. But before I could take a step, a small voice stopped me.

"You're leaving?"

I spun around to see Milo standing there, peering up at me with sad eyes. I smiled and crouched down, placing my hands on his shoulders.

"Milo, you should be in bed."

"I know, but I wanted to say goodbye. Do you really have to go?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry Milo, but I can't stay here any longer."

Milo suddenly wrapped his arms around me in a hug that I quickly returned. "I finally get it now."

I pulled away from the hug and looked at him questioningly. "Get what?"

His smile widened and he replied, "You're the girl in the story."

My eyes widened slightly and he added, "I still like my ending better."

"Me too," I told him with a smile. "Stay strong, Milo, because I know I will."

I finally stood up and turned to leave, waving back at the family while Bixlow and Freed followed me. After a moment, I could still hear the two wizards behind me.

"So are you in a guild, Freya?" I heard Bixlow ask me.

"No," I stated simply.

"So you just travel then?" Freed asked this time.

"Yep."

I heard Bixlow laugh a bit. "Wow, you are one lone wolf, baby!"

"Lone wolf! Lone wolf!"

I frowned and glanced back at him. "Don't call me baby."

"Come on, the Freya I know wouldn't mind."

"Well that Freya isn't here," I told him.

It grew quiet after we entered Onibus again. With the night sky above us, the streets were almost completely empty. I suddenly noticed a small, white snowflake in front of my face. I looked up to see many more flakes falling down.

"Snow?" I heard Freed question.

My eyes widened at the sudden realization and I quickly started looking around, preparing myself for a battle. Bixlow and Freed must've gotten the hint because they both looked like they were ready for a fight.

I quickly fixed my gaze on a nearby street, watching as the ground started icing over. After a moment, a girl with white hair and blue eyes appeared. She seemed to be a bit younger than me and wore a white and blue kimono.

Her eyes met mine and she asked, "Are you Freya Darkheart?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "And you are?"

"You can call me Gwyneira."

"Are you from Fallen Angel?" I asked.

"That I am. Are you Freya?" she asked again.

"I'm not going to tell you."

She giggled lightly. "Then let's find out, shall we? White Fury!"

She shot a mini blizzard from her hand at me. I quickly ducked into the shadows at my feet, dodging the blast and emerging behind her. She quickly turned toward me, as if knowing where I'd be.

"Yep, you're her alright," she said with a small smile. "The shadow mage. I'm taking you back to your master."

I smirked at her. "You'll have to beat me first. Shadow Claws!"

The shadows enveloped my hands and formed sharp, jagged claws. I noticed Bixlow and Freed getting ready to jump into the battle, but Gwyneira turned her head toward them and formed an ice dome over the two of us.

"No interferences," she stated simply.

Looking at me again, snow began forming around her in a small snowstorm. "Blizzard!"

"Guard Shadow!"

With the blizzards surrounding me, I brought up shadows around me to protect myself. As soon as I saw an opening, I jumped up out of the blizzards.

I charged toward her, dodging her White Fury spell as I went. As soon as I was in range, I brought my claws up only to be stopped by a small wall of ice that trapped my hands.

I struggled to break free until I suddenly heard, "Line Formation, babies!"

I looked over to see a hole in the ice dome where Bixlow and Freed had broken in. Bixlow's babies, as he seems to call them, stacked up and a vertical beam shot from them and shattered the ice trapping my hands.

Freed then rushed toward the surprised Gwyneira with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Dark Ecriture: Destruction!"

I quickly jumped back as he slashed his sword over Gwyneira, even cracking the ground beneath her with that powerful attack.

Gwyneira let out a scream of pain and hit the ground. The ice dome slowly melted away while Freed sheathed his sword. Knowing the fight was over, my shadow claws dissipated.

Bixlow and Freed came over to me while Gwyneira struggled to get up. "Next time...no one will be here...to help you...Freya."

I watched as her body became flakes of snow that flew away into the night sky. With the two wizards now looking at me, I let out a small sigh.

"I could've take her. But...thanks."

I gave a small smile that Bixlow instantly returned by grinning and sticking his tongue out. "No problem, baby! We couldn't let you fight her all alone, now could we?!"

I noticed he called me baby again, but I let it slide. Instead, I smiled at the two. Maybe it's okay if I tell them a little.

"Actually, there's probably some things I should tell you both."

"Like why that girl was after you?" Freed asked.

I nodded. "Yes. She's from a dark guild known as Fallen Angel. I'm constantly fighting off wizards from there. It wasn't surprising that I'd run into another."

"But why are they after you?" Bixlow questioned.

"Why? Why?" his babies repeated.

I looked between the two and rubbed my arm uncomfortably. "I really shouldn't tell you. But I will tell you what I wanted to tell Bixlow before I left all those years ago."

Bixlow started leaning forward slightly, eager to hear what I had to say. I placed a hand over my chest.

"I was born with the unique gift of precognition, the ability to have visions of future events."

They both gasped slightly and Bixlow yelled, "That's what you've been hiding?! All this time and you've hidden an ability like that?!"

I turned my head away and quickly said, "I'm sorry, Bixlow. My mother always told me not to let people know."

"Actually, there's someone at our guild who has that same ability," Freed told me, causing me to look up at him in surprise. "Her name is Carla."

Bixlow grinned again. "You should join Fairy Tail! You'd fit in just like part of the family! What do you say, Freya?"

I stared at Bixlow in complete shock as he held his hand out to me. Join Fairy Tail? Could I do that? This may be my chance to finally find a home. I slowly reached out to take his hand.

But as soon as my fingers brushed against his palm, horrible images flooded my mind. I could see the Fairy Tail guild in ruins. Bixlow, Freed, and many others laid on the ground, covered with injuries.

I instantly retracted my hand and backed away. "I-I'm sorry. I can't."

Bixlow came toward me with a small frown. "Freya-"

"I can't, Bixlow! You have to leave me alone!" I yelled before taking off back into the woods.

I can't get close to him. To any of them. They will all be in grave danger if I'm around. Tears spilled from my eyes as I ran. Why? Why must I always be alone?